JC Israel Briefing Day 534: Mass protests over return to Gaza War

Back to the protest story shortly, but first the latest in the Gaza conflict.

Hamas has announced that Israel killed one of its senior political leaders Salah al-Bardawil. The terror group called his killing a “treacherous Zionist assassination” and hailed him as a “symbol of political, media, and national work,” noting that he “never failed to perform his duties or … jihad.”

Since Israel restarted fighting last week it has killed several Hamas leaders, including Gaza’s de-facto Prime Minister Essam Addalees and internal security chief Mahmoud Abu Watfa.

The latest Israeli operations also include targeting militant infrastructure and weapons storage sites. Fighter jets struck what the IDF described as a Hamas command centre.

As Israel fights, it is doubling down on its insistence that Hamas is eliminated. But the Trump administration has hinted at a different course of action. President Trump’s Middle East point-man has suggested Hamas could remain politically active in Gaza if it disarms. Steve Witkoff said in an interview that if it demilitarises, the group could potentially "be involved politically” in the Strip’s future.

While he said that Hamas can’t continue to be a terrorist organisation and run Gaza, he was open to its continued presence after major reforms and said that he believes the group is less extreme than it is often portrayed.

Hamas quickly responded, saying that the call to demilitarise is “meaningless” as long as “the occupation” – a word the terror group uses to refer to Israel – still exists.

Elsewhere, Arab mediators are scrambling to salvage the collapsed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. According to the Washington Post, Egypt and Qatar are pushing for an emergency truce.

In related news, there are reports that Hamas is still considering the possibility of accepting a US proposal for an extended ceasefire. Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanoua was quoted in Arab media saying that “the proposal by Witkoff, along with several ideas, is being discussed with mediators.”

Now back to the mass protests in Israel.

Protestors claim that the government has put the remaining Israeli hostages in danger by choosing to return to fighting instead of negotiating the next phase of the ceasefire deal.

They also allege that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s motivation in trying to fire two national officials – Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar and Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara – is to defend his personal standing.

Netanyahu and his supporters argue that restarting the war in Gaza is the best path to solidifying Israel’s security and that the best method of getting the hostages back is by placing Hamas is under military pressure. They also say that the sacking of Bar and Baharav-Miara are in the national interest.

At the protests there was alarm over reports that ministers are considering going through with Bar’s dismissal even if a pending High Court petition ends with judges declaring the move illegal. There is growing pressure for a national strike in such a scenario.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid told crowds last night that if this happens “the economy needs to strike, the Knesset needs to strike, the courts need to strike, the local authorities need to strike, not only the universities need to strike, but also the schools. If we can organise a tax revolt, we will organise a tax revolt”.

He accused the government of misusing a call for “unity” as a means of silencing legitimate criticism, and said: “Silence in the face of a destructive government is not unity.”

He claimed that Netanyahu’s policies are sowing division to a point that civil war is a real danger.

The demonstrations also saw moving speeches regarding the hostages still in Gaza. The youngest speaker was Amit Nimrodi, the teenage sister of hostage Tamir.

She said: “I’m a 15-year-old girl. I don’t understand politics, I just want my brother home. I want to go back to being a child.”

Before the main protests Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage soldier Nimrod, spoke outside IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv. He claimed: "After he blew up the [ceasefire] agreement, Netanyahu is now blowing up the hostages in Gaza."

Last night’s protest took place amid similar fury from families who lost loved ones in the October 7 attacks over the alleged misuse of their names in politics.
The names of some victims’ parents appeared in a campaign taking the government’s side on the question of whether there should be a state commission of inquiry into the massacre. The government strongly opposes such a move but some of the families in question are actively campaigning in favour of an inquiry.

Amos Baram, father of Ilay Baram, said: “You used my name and my son’s name without my permission. This is a despicable act for which there is no forgiveness.”

Meanwhile, Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel from southern Lebanon yesterday, prompting a severe response. The Israeli air force hit a Hezbollah command centre and several rocket launch sites. Residents in northern Israeli communities who are meant to return home have raised deep concerns about the renewed skirmishes.

Similarly, Houthi terrorists in Yemen launched a rocket towards Israel yesterday and another this morning. Both were intercepted before reaching Israel. The Houthis have also threatened to target Ben Gurion Airport, writing on social media: “After the success of the Yemeni Armed Forces in severing maritime trade with Israel in the Red Sea, a blockade is imposed on Ben Gurion Airport in occupied Palestine.”

And Israel has struck several targets in Syria, including at the Palmyra military airport and the nearby T-4 airbase. The IDF said they targeted the “remaining strategic military capabilities” of the former Assad regime – referring to assets which it fears could be misused by the new Syrian leadership.

Back in Gaza, Fatah, Hamas’ main rival in Palestinian politics, has called on the terror group to relinquish control of the Strip.

According to AFP, Fatah spokesman Monther al-Hayek said that Hamas should step aside from governing and fully recognise that the battle ahead will lead to the end of Palestinians’ existence" if it remains in power. Fatah, the party of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, is widely seen as less extreme than Hamas.

Finally, Former Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly asked for “things that are illegitimate, possibly illegal.”

In an interview with Channel 12, Cohen said such requests were made during his tenure and to others after him. He accused Netanyahu of trying to install loyalists to obstruct investigations, including the ongoing probe into alleged Qatari influence in the Prime Minister’s Office.

He added that Netanyahu’s push to remove Ronen Bar was an effort to halt the investigation, saying: “Any future Shin Bet head will operate under the threat of being fired.”

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